The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, October 6, 1895, Page 12

12 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, -SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1895. A NEW JUNTA BATTLES WITH BOSS BUCKLEY McNab, Rainey, Wel- burn and Daggett Lead the Party. DEUPREY'S COMMITTEE. It WIll Set Up a Plan at Once and Merry War Will Follow. THE STORY OF THE BIG FOUR. Gavin McNab, the Actlve Leader, Tells of the Situation and His Plans. 1t is & remarkable fact that though Chris Buckley has been a prominent and many times a dominant factor in San Francisco politics, he has been comparatively un- known to the great majority of the people of City. This is due in a great meas- ure to the fact that he has systematically | kept his personality in the background. | THE Cary yesterday published an excellent | likeness of the Blind Boss and to-day pre- | sents a smaller reproduction of the same | picture in order that the people may have | a good look at the man who aspires to once more rule them as with an iron rod. Whether he will be permitted to do so rests with the voters of the City. The many dark schemes in which this man has been en- gazed, his flight from threatened punish- ment by outraged justice, his returp | and his new ambition are phases of the marvelous history of San Francisco. Other members of Buckley’s party lay claim to having frustrated his plans to secure dominance in their organi- zation. Itisasserted that Sam Rainey is arrayed against him, and that with Rainey a number of other well-known citizens are allied in this opposition. The sincerity of Rainey’s present associates has not been questioned ; but the people of San Fran- cisco will not believe that Rainey and | Buckley are at outs until results have proved such a state of affairs to be in ex- istence. ———— Boss Buckley’s present, sudden and ap- parently threatening march to Democratic power is the absorbing political topic of the day. All who intelligently note his | progress are surprised and even startled at the strength he is displaying at the outset of his campaign. The entertaining interview in yesterday’s Cart, in which Buckley told the story of his | position and the ai; of his organization, | on which he was willine to go before the afforded to everybody at all wise in the ways of politics a key to what he is | doing, what he will try to do and how he will try to do it. of what Christopher Buckley said in that | lengthy talk to the people and the party lay chiefly between the lines, i the ex- hibition it afforded of a master at work, and in its uncoverlng of the “play” that | he is making. Buckley points his finger at the chaotic party organization—at the “machine” that he says has been wrecked, tinkered at by journeymen and left out in the weather— and says that the party needs organ iza- | tion ana management. This gives timely | force to the truth that Mr. Buckley knows a thing or two about organization, the | very life of party success,and he is firm in the opinion that he is badly needed. He says the party must be united and that it will be. That sounds well. Of course, it means that the ‘‘reform,” the anti-Buckley element of the party, is a corner torn off and it must be restored. Smooth conciliation, tempting honors, far- reaching combinations, “dough’ and all the things which Buckley knows so well how to use to draw men unto him, will have a tendency toward party harmony when the Buckleyites become the party. Buckley has taken shrewd and skillful observations of *‘the people’’—one of the important factors to be considered—and announces that the people are groaning under a burden of high taxation, while the City finances are in g terrible condition. He mounts this wave of discontent by de- claring that he always kept plenty of money in the treasury with a dollar limit, which is abundantly large with competent administration. He talks ‘‘good govern- ment,” “good men’ and “low taxes” in disarming quiescent hostility to Buckley- ism, and is prepared to put forward for the confidence of the people superbly respect- able men who will serve him when he wants them to. It isan elementary politi- cal truth to Buckley that rich men are the easiest handled. The popular demand for municipal improvements is handled by the taking policy, ‘“Let's have fine im- provements within the dollar limit, but let the people vote on the matter.” ‘While the anti-Buckley wing of the party is solely crying “Buckley!” he bobs up exhibiting his shrewd foresight ina policy and municipal platform to suit the hour, already prepared. The co-operative association of anti- Buckley leaders who are now trying to work the machine—the junta—he callsa combination of incompetent demagogues who have axes to grind with the party, and so endeavors to intensify whatever distrust and jealousy of them may exist on that side. To rave himself from the curse of Buckleyism he swears that he is out of polities for good and is simply counseling with some friends who want to secure good government. Along these lines Buckley and his fol- The force and interest | | lowers are working with all the political arts in the catalogue. The Occidental Club is being developed into a permeating Tammany Hall organization. With the first show of his strength and the first promises of his success men are tumbling into his camp. The junta says that Buck- ley is beaten already, and many cannot be- lieve that he can ever regain any control | of the party. Of such doubters Chris says with a faint smile, “They have not had my experience*'’ Both sides of the present battle, which promises to become a historical one, pre- sent exceedingly interesting political studies. The bold and surprising return of the late refugee boss to the City and the influence and sufferance he has already secured is an interesting political phe- nomenon, a prophecy of which would have been laughed down but a few weeks ago. Yet if Buckley should completely regain his power it would be but a repetition of what has often happened before in the politics of large cities where great waves of reform have seemed to sweep rings from the face of the earth. Yet public apathy has generally relaxed in time, the vigilance of ‘“good government” people has relapsed, the new party organization has degenerated, and the ring power, for- ever pressing inward like waters against a floodgate, has regained its ground. Mr. Buckley is now showing how the thing is done. 1t is quite interesting, too, to watch the politics of the anti-Buckley wing of the Democratic party, which is just now solely engaged in holding onto -the present ma- chine and getting ready to make a brand- new one with the regular label on it if their fingers slip. As a whole the party is a delightful mess in two sections, and the stirring has only just begun. There is no mess in the Buckley section, but there is a pretty one in the other. Since the last election—or rather since Max Popper gave up the party leadership in disgust some months ago—there has been no specifie and well-recognized head to the organization. The party slept, sup- posing that a General would be around when it woke up. Buckley just wakened it very early, and there was no one else to give orders. It was Gavin McNab who first hustled about and called to arms when Buckley’s tread was heard. Itwas plainly evident in the dark that quick work was needed to save the party organization from the grasp of the Blind Boss and preserve its decency and purity. Probably it was an exemplifi- cation of the truth that in emergencies the strongestand the natural leaders are found at the front that four reformers quickly combined their power a week ago and aealt Buckley that 154 to 154 blow in the general committee last Wednesday night. These reformers were Gavin McNab, O. M. Welburn, John M. Daggett, and Sam Rainey. McNab called the meeting at the Occidental Hotel about a week ago Satur- day, at which the situation was canvassed | and the Wednesday programme and the plan of work for it decided upon. Buckley laughed at the pretense of these GAVIN McNAB, WHO HAS ASPIRATIONS. [This gentleman rivals the Blind Boss in the desire for pure politics.] with politics.” Daggett, ot being a citizen of San Francisco, and being interested only in State and National politics, as he says, does not freely thrust himself into the local arena. But he would exert any power he bas to save the party from Buckley. Mr. Daggett is credited with a keen desire to take a delegation to the Natjonal Dem- ocratic Convention, but that is an entirely different matter. Welburn claims that he has the best interests of the party at heart in spite of the factthat he, too, has an eye on that National convention. McNab has aiways affiliated with the Daggett-Irish wing of the party, and so his association with Daggett is natural. He is especially close to Welburn, who owes McNab a good deal for his Collector- ship, so that McNab wields a good deal of strength through Welburn and the orders hecan give. McNab doesn’t know Rainey, he says, but is a friend of Chief Sullivan and | “wants the Fire Department saved from | Buckley and politics,” so the co-cperation | of the Fire Depariment is quite natural. | Although Rainey was being cursed and re- | pudiated along with Buckley not long ago | his influence is naturally not spurned CHRIS BUCKLEY, [This is the man of whom everybody hears, but who is seen by few.] THE AMBITIOUS. “reformers” being any better or having any higher aims than he has. This junta of four leaders has sprung into definite being some time within a few daysand appears to constitute at present | a clear-cut ‘“big four,” who alone are actively defending the Democracy from Buckley and who are the only generals in the field against him at this moment. ‘What the junta’s lease of power will be and what other natural leaders will come out of the large and respectable anti-Buck- ley element of the party people must wait to find out. Buckley has not said how much he fears the power and skill of this | quartet. Mr. McNab, who has been very active in Democratic politics for some time and has been associated along various lines with the anti-Buckley element since the Sulli- van and Dwyer revolution, appears just now to be the most active member of the junta. Possibly he may be regardea as chief of the co-operating leaders and possi- bly he may rise into still clearer view, Sam Rainey is something of a leader at times, but he doesn’t say much usualiy, and it is not easy to estimate his exact position. McNab says that he is interested only in good :citizenship. Rainey wants the Fire Department ‘“saved from contact HAVE YOU SMOKED THAT NEW CIGAR? FINEST ON THE MARKET. MOUNTAINROSE =CIGARS= - SON BROTHERS & CO., Nos. 13 and 15 Sansome Street, PACIFIC COAST AGENTS. when it is in the interest of purity. Then Daggett and Rainey are close and friendly. From these associated sources thus com- bined proceeded the power that Buckley felt on Wednesday night. From the Fire Department went out the saving influ- ences of Eddie Greany, Johnny Dough- erty, Fire Commissioner McDonald and the red buggies that flew about town before that meeting. At the Mint Charley Armes, Neely Beggs anda others received their or- ders. Welburn’s office wasa power in influ- encing members of the general committee. There were Deputies Ned Lanigan, Tommy Chandler, Jack Welch, Frank P. Cusick, Mike Finn and other influential district workers to send forth. On the side there was Major Harney and Sam Braunhart, Port Wardens, who represent State poli- tics, and many other lesser influences not rising to the level of party leadership. These men thus combined are openly opposed to Buckley. Of course, other strong anti-Buckley Democrats are ready for trouble when necded. But none of these members of the present junta are popular and strong with all fac- tions. They are severally derided, cursed and guyed by all sorts of Democrats, and the Big Four is not very largely credited with being the power that is to strengthen the party and lead it toa great victory against Buckley and to make headway for “*pure politics and good government.”” The programme now is to get together in a few days the Deuprey committee of twenty-five, appointed at the last munici- pal convention, and fix up & plan of organ- ization. The pian includes the creation of a new general committee of 450, giving twenty-five members to each district, as now. It seems certain that the next bat- tle with Buckley will be over the work of the Deuprey committee, and that it will come soon. The Deuprey cammittee is scorned and derided by the Buckley men. The plan of organization of the last mu- nicipal convention included the appoint- ment of a committee of twenty-five on county organization. It was announced by Chairman Eugene N. Deuprey at mid- night of the last day of the convention, and it was supposed to be anti-Buckley. ‘When it was announced the wildest and fiercest battle of that stormy convention ensued. Peter F. Dunne, seconded by Andy Clunie, fought it for half an hour when they could make themselves heard. Deuprey appointed the committee with power to act—that is, to create a brand, new county organization. During the bat- tle several police officers saved Deuprey from the howling mob that stormed the platform. It was contended by Dunne that the committee died with the conven- tlon. At lastit was decided to refer the work and powers of the committee to the existing general committee, the one that has been in existence since 1891. Now the reorganizers assert that there was no quorum when that action was taken, and that no technicality like that will be allowed to wreck the party anyway. That committee and its work is the next big thing on the Democratic programme, and this is the committee: Twenty-eighth Distriet, John F. McGovern: Tw inth, Samuel Braunhart; Thirtieth, E. Shank Thirty-first, C. Hill Thirty- second, William Larkin; Thirty-third, F. C. Cleary; Thirty-fourth, G. E. Gallagher; Thirty- fifth, James F. Smith; Thirty-sixth, Edward Ring; Thirty-seventh, V. C." Tobin; Thirty- eighth, Joseph McKenna; Thirty-ninth, Thomas P. Fenton; Fortieth, M. Rosenthal; Forty-first, R. C. Mattingly; Forty-second, John A. Lyncn} Forty-third, George T. Marye; Forty-fourth, J. Deandries; Forty-fifth, John Gately.” At large— A. T. Vogelsang, William Hinton Jr., W. H. Metson, W, P. Sullivan Jr., E. J. Crane, Eugene Garber, George D. Shadburne. Should Buckley capture the general committee, the reorganizers will simply bolt and set up a new organization, which they say will be recognized by the State Central Committee. The story of a leader, like Mr. McNab, about the present situation, would interest many people, and he consented to tell a CaLn reporter his story yesterday. He was asked if he would assume the leader- ship of the party, and he quickly replied: “‘The leadership of the local Démocracy has not been tendered to me, nor do I think there is any disposition on the part of the Demoeracy to have me assume the leadership. Were such the case, I would under no circumstances accept the posi- tion. I could not, on principle, oppose bossism and at the same time become a boss or one of a set of bosses.. My intereat im politics now is the interest of good gov- ernment and the interest of the com- munity. I will always be in politics to prevent a worse state of affairs, and will always obey the summons of duty. It is true that I participated very largely 1n the organization of the battle against Buckley. The circumstances are these: About two months ago this man Buckley opened headquarters in the Occidental Club and began herding his former fol- lowers into line for organization. He went systematically to work to undermine the general committee by every means. Every blandishment was used for votes and scores of men were promised nomina- tions. When satisfied that he had the committee, petitions for a meeting were put in circulation. Confronted by this state of affairs the decent elements of the party were obliged to move. A meeting was held at the Occidental Hotel at the request of myself and a few other well- known members of the general committee. There were present Major Harney, Frank P. Aughes, James Fenton, Jack Welch, Thomas P. Cusick, Charles Gilday, Ed- ward Lanigan, Thomas Chandler, Clitus Barbour, H. B. McAvoy, Mr. Riordan, M. C. Hassett, C. S. Armes, Thomas Healey, Jerry McCarthy, L. V. Merle, A. A. Watklns, Joseph 0'Donnell, Timothy Donovan, Samuel Braunhart and Samuel Zemansky.” These were the gentlemen who were most actively associated in the battle for purity now on. It was decided to call a meeting at once and elect A. A. Watkins as chairman. The result is known. “There were 111 absentees,” continued Mr. McNab, “and of these four-fifths are rank anti-Buckley men. The decent ele- ment in opposition to Buckley had the hearty co-operation of 0. M. Welburn and John M. Daggett. Then the friends of the Fire Department were also opposed to Buckley, for the reason that they wanted to keep this efficient and ably managed department out of politics and out of Buckley’s revengeful grasp.” Mr. McNab was asked what he knew about Sam Rainey’s influence in the battle. *I do not know,”” said McNab. “I have not met and I have not heard .of a memy ber of the committee to whom he expressed an opinion or suggested a line of action. I do not know him personally. ‘‘As to the future it is difficult to say at this time precisely what shape reorganiza- tion will assume. But there are plenty of able and honest Democrats ready to co- operate with any broad and honest plan. Undoubtedly the plan of organization that will be developed will be sufficiently broad to take care of and absorb all who favor clean politics, and to effect the elimination of Buckley and * Buckleyism from San Francisco affairs. The Deuprey commit- tee 1s in hearty sympathy with the major- ity in the general committee, and without doubt action will be taken before long to establish a powerful combination, an or- ganization that will command ‘the respect and adherence of all Democrats. ‘‘The State Central Committee which issues the call for the nmext primary has been quietly canvassed and the sentiments of the members as to Buckley and any or- ganization he could influence has been ascertained to be bitter in the extreme. No such organization would be recognized. The State Central Committee has in its possession absolute proof of Buckley’s operations in the last campaign and his efforts to defeat the election of Budd, and his work in the Pond campaign when Pond and the entire ticket were sold out is a matter of common notoriety.” “They’re a fine set of reformers, ain’t they?” is the derisive chorus up at the Occidental Ciub when the Juntais dis- cussed and McNab engenders the keenest hostility. “And the fellows that are doing their purifying for them,” sniffed the well- known Buckley man yesterday. ‘Masjor Harney, the Sacramento. politician, who came down here to a water-front job under English; Billy Gavigan, who was caught with delinquent taxes in his pockets; Senator Billy Williams, who was indicted by the Wallace Grand Jury as one of the 24-combination in the Senate; Lanigan, Chandler, Jack Welch, Mike Finn— they're great reformers, they are. McNab and those fellows are in with Rainey, too, eh? ' It's very interesting all round. Why, Buck won't stop to look at ’em, McNab, Daggett, Wel- burn! Why, the fellows working for them will barrel 'em if they took a notion. I suppose you remember the nomination for Supervisor that McNab took from Buckley back in the eighties.” ' A well-informed Democrat, who has been through many battles and who talked from the position of an impartial man up a tree, made some interesting comments yesterday. “Well, now, what is this new Junta likely to amount to?” he said. “McNab, Welburn and Daggett have no personal following as Buckley has. They havea tactical strength because they control a few jobs. Welburn is a false alarm and a good thing like Colnon. When he talks he loses you. He gets around with his in- growing voice, taps the table and says, ‘I'll show these fellows a thing or two.” Of course he’s got some district workers in his office, and he controls them because he controls their jobs. That’s Gavin’s strength—through Welburn. McNab says he don’t know Rainey, yet he has been on intimate terms with Sullivan and the Fire Department for years. - “These fellows wantito keep Buckley out of politics, yet they go in with Rainey. There’s a great choice, ain’t there? They couldn’t have won their fight Wednesday night without Rainey. Rainey says he's only interested in keeping the Fire Depart- ment out of politics. No doubt he jollies the boys in the department that way. The Fire Department is a useful thing for a man that's ‘grafting.’ It's close to the ‘push’ and it's a good thing to trade with. McNab talks about using Rainey for an end. Why, Rainey will barrel him in a minute when he wants to. As to McNab, he’s not wor- rying about the dear people; though I don’t know what heis grinding at. Rainey is avaricious and he will keep that Fire Department for himself. That’s what he wants. You can't tell anything about Rainey. Justas likely as not he’ll stand in with the Junta and make a combina- tion with Buckley at the same time. That would be good politics. “Daggett comes into this thing through his intimacy with Rainey. Of course he has a few men in the Mint that he can order. McNab's first programme three or four weeks ago was to get the Deuprey committee to work and make Ed Lanigan the active boss, but he found that Lanigan was not strong enough. Lanigan is a false alarm to a great extent as far as per- sonal following goes, and he is handi- capped by his job. These deputy revenue collectors have a certain influence, of course, because they get around among the saloon men and are in a position to ask favors. “I can’t guess how the anti-Buckley com- binatn is coming out. I doubtif Max Popper will become active again. He had his chance at the party and fizzled. Braun- hart is but a small force against Buckley. He doesn’t amount to as much as his talk. He is under orders now and he’s lost the Twenty-ninth to McCourtney pretty well. But what can those tyrosdo against Buck- ley? McNab has the Civic Federation for an outside scheme, and he is unpopular by reason of his bitterness of speech, lack of policy and shiftiness.” So the battle grows. Buckley has opened up a new vista to a host of politicians, and he is credited with spending thousands already. Amid all the gossip about him is the widely spread suspicion that the rail- road would like to have him help defend it. An illustration of his present author- ity was the nomination of James H. O’Brien for chairman of the generat com- mittee. Several of his influential followers urged friends on him for the place. Buckley made no promises, while carefully study- ing the situation. Then he himself picked O’Brien as the best candidate, because he was well known, had a clean record and was a good fellow with the boys, while commanding their respect. His orders went and O'Brien was nearly elected. On the other side there are all sorts of war in the Federal brigade, and in the State forces, and the local anti-Buckley wing is in the throes of reorganization, without a strong leader in command. There is room for many interesting developments. 5 RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH. Mrs, A. F. Smith and T. E. Zant, Lec- turers on Socialism, Arrested for Obstructing the Street. Mrs. A. F. Smith and T. E. Zant lec- tured on socialism at the corner of Seventh and Market streets last night. A crowd of about 250 people gathered to listen to them when Policemen Anderson, Galloway and Castor swooped down upon.them and placed them under arrest. Mrs. Smith, who had just commenced to speak, asked the policemen why they did not arrest the Salvation Army, which was also attracting a crowd. The reply was, “What they say does good, but what you say does harm.” “Then we are being arrested for what we say and not for obstructing the street?’’ was Mrs. Smith’s next query. “Well, you are obstructing the street, and we have orders to arrest you,’” was the reoly. Mrs. Smith and Zant were taken to the City Prison and booked on a charge of ob- structing the street and sidewalk. The were immediately released on $50 cas bail each. TARGET TOURNAMENT, The California Inanimate Target Asso- ciation’s Shoot To-Day at the Oakland Racetrack. Thbe California Inanimate Target Asso- ciation opened headquarters at the Occi- dental Hotel yesterday. A large number of marksmen arrived in the City during the day for the first of the shooting, which begins to-day at 10 o’clock at the Oakland racetrack. Among the arrivals were teams from Stockton, Sacramento and Vi- salia and a number of individual shots from other iflm of the State. The San Jose team will come up this morning. I¢ is expected that there will be in attend- ance at the tournament, which will last two days, at least 150 men. There will be a number of teams of six men each to shoot for the association trophy to-day and for the Overland Monthly trophy to-morrow, and a great deal of interest is taken in these events, A e NEW TO-DAY—DRY GOO! A A HOUSEFURNISHING GOODS! THE MOSTCOMPLETESTOCK IN SAN FRANCISCO EXTREMELY LOW PRICES! 150 pairs NOTTINGHAM LACE CURTAINS.......$125 a Pair 250 pairs NOTTINGHAM LACE CURTAINS.......$150 a Pair 175 pairs NOTTINGHAM LACE CURTAINS. 4 cases FINE WHITE BEDSPREA .. $2.00 a Pair DS (extra size). - . - $1.00 Each 3 cases EXTRA QUALITY BEDSPREADS (White and Col- 5 cases SUPERFINE WHITE TOILET QUILTS (Beautiful Designs) . ...... 150 pairs FRINGED CHENILLE . 200 pairs EXTRA SIZE WHITE Pare Wool:. oo o veeees..$350 Each PORTIERES (all shades) ... $450 a Pair BLANKETS (warranted all 3 cases WHITE EMBROIDERED CURTAIN MUSLIN (12 different patterns). .o sl Yard We have also received Tapestry and Chenille Table Sets, Russian and Hamburg low Shams. an elegant assortment of Covers in all sizes, Lace Bed Nets and Embroidered Pil= 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121 POST STREET. WHITE LABDR _EMPLUYZEB..' Japanese Considered Unde-~ sirable by the Stanford Estate Managers. Chief Support of the Stanford Unl- versity Said to Be Serlously Threatened. The Stanford ranches in the vicinity of Vina embrace altogether 58,000 acres of productive land. The orchards and vine- yards of this vast estate are expected to produce much of the revenue to meet the demands of the university at Palo Alto. Some months ago it was observed by men employed at the vineyard that some of the | vines were not thrifty, but as vines in every vineyard die no special attention was paid to the decay. As time wore on evidences of blight began to multiply, and closer observation disclosed the fact that a disease of some kind had attacked many of the vines in spots separated throughout the vineyard. ‘In many places new cuttings were put in to replace the decaying vines, At present it is not known whether the damage will be very great or only mod- erate. Charles 6. Lathrop, agent of the Stan- ford estate and the Vina distillery, was seen at his office in this City yesterday: In reply to inquiries he said: We know nothing here, oi our own knowl- edge, of any disease among the vines at Vina. THE CALL of this morning gave us the only in- formation we have on the subject. When I was up there a few days ago everything seemed to be all right. 'In every vineyard vines die and are replaced. The rabbits also destroy many vines and_replanting is con- stantly going on in every large vineyard. We have heard nothing to cause alarm, but some of the scientific fellows may have discovered something. When they see a bug on a tree, they say at once that the bug 1s going to eat the tree. Mr. Lathrop said the revenues of the Vina ranches went to the support of the university at Palo Alto. He thought a very gcod return would be made from the property this year. “We have,” he said, white men working in the vineyard now. Iengaged them here in San Fran- cialco, and had no trouble im getting the belp.” . 3 *‘What wages do you pay?” was asked. ‘I do not care to say what we do pay. We board the men and pay them wages besides.” “Did you try Japanese?’’ *“We employed some from Sacramento, but their employment was not successful.’”’ The professors at .Stanford University claim to be entirely ignorant of the exist- | ence of a fatzl disease in the vineyards at Vina. With one single exception they | profess to have received the first informa- tion of what may prove of vital importance to them in the article published in THE CALL of Saturday. The one exception referred to is a profes- sor of high standing in the faculty, but who declines to allow the use of his” name for {ear it will jeopardize his position. It-was only after firent persuasion that he finally admitted the existence of a mysterious and fatal disease at Vina. It came to him, he said, through a brother professor, who he understood had been called upon to examine the disease and determine its character. He did not know the result of the investigation, and for that reason alone would decline to be quoted in a matter which had been told him in confidence, and which should only be stated officially by the investigating party. % “I'can neither deny nor affirm the exist- ance of a fatal disease in the vineyards of Vina,” said Emory E. Smith, professor of horticulture, when seen at his Palo Alto bouse yesterday. *‘This is a matter of such general importance and interest that Ido not see how it can.be kept from the vineyardists for any great length of time, provided, of course, it is true. It is quite possible that phylloxera may have made its appearance at Vina among vines not grafted upon resistant stocks. If this is the case, it is only necessary to reset that portton with ~ resistant” or wild stocks, as they are more generally known and then graft the desired variety. ““Phylloxera only makes its appearance 1 in spots, hence it is not probable that if it exists at Vina it would spread so rapidly as to curtail to any material degree the income of Stanford Univer: Many of the finest vineyards of California have been afflicted in this way, yet they wera all reset with resistant stocks and are now in first-class condition. Some five years ago there made its appearance in South- ern California a peculiar blight known as the mysterious grapevine disease. It has gradually wasted itself away, however, until scarcely a trace of it is left in the lower counties. It would be hard for me to believe that it had made its appearance at Vina, though of course stranger things have happened. From the description pul lished in THE CArL I am Inclinetfto think that if there is any disease at all it is phylloxera. Some monthsago I made a trip through the upper counties, and I am confident that the vineyard was free at that.time from any fatal blight.” CLOSING THE ~ SEASON, Folding the White Wings of the Sausalito Yacht Clubs. Soclal Hops Given In the Boat= houses In the Lee of the Marin County Hills. The yacht clubs of Sausalito are closed, There was dancigg and singing last night upon the terraces of the Pacifics and upon the floats of the San Franciscos. The season of the yachtsmen is passed and the doorsg of the clubs are no longer open. The yachts, or at least those thatdare to brave the uncertain weather of the winter months, will still be in commission, bug officially speaking the season closed, and the hops at the different clubhouses last evening were to mark the event. On the heights of the Pacific Club Chi« nese lanterns glowed in the semi-darkness of the moonlight night, lighting’ up the pathways and terraces of the club grounds | until they presented a picture not to be | forgotten. The yachts at anchor off the | clubhouse all had their lights hung out, and it seemed as if a miniature city had suddenly settled down just off the beach | and had prepared itself to stay at least as | long as toe festivities lasted. ., The tug Vigiiant took over the visitors to | the Pacific Club. There were more people | upon the decks of the tug coming back, however, for many of the guests had gone over upon the regular ferry-boat. ere wasdancing and singing and music from a band and music from a couple of negro minstrels who accompanied the guests over and back. In charge of the affair was an invitation committee composed of Leon S. Greene- | baum, V. W. Gaskill, D. H. Bibb, H. D. Keil, J. D, Maxwell and L. Haber. Farther down the beach the San Fran. cisco Yacht Club held its closing cere- monies. The ciubhouse was decked in lanterns and the yachts lying just off the float were all lighted up in honor of the event. The committee in charge was com- posed of Dr..V. P. Buckley, C. C. Bruce and H. H. Jenners. The San Franciscos had the tug Hercules chartered to take the guests back, and after those who had to return to the City had leit there was g jinks at the clubbouse. The Vigilant left the wharf of the Pacific Club about the same time as the Hercules left that of the San Franciscos, and both tugs were saluted from the clubhouses, the heichts above and from the decks of yachts which they passed. The guests ar rived in the City about 11:30, el